Former TV star found guilty after trial at St Albans Crown Court
Former television actor John Alford, who rose to fame in BBC’s Grange Hill and later on ITV’s London’s Burning, has been convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage girls at a house party in Hertfordshire. The 53-year-old, charged under his legal name John Shannon, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court following a trial that focused on the early hours of April 9, 2022.
Jurors heard that Alford arrived at the property at around 2am after drinking at a pub. The gathering, described in court as “a bit of a party,” was hosted by a teenage girl, whose father arrived with Alford. By then, most of the partygoers had gone to bed. The two victims, aged 14 and 15, had been drinking and did not previously know him.
Prosecutor Julie Whitby told the court that Alford asked the girls their ages and knew both were under 16. She said the teenagers saw him as a family acquaintance and did not expect what followed. According to the prosecution, the girls were left in a vulnerable position—alone, intoxicated, and out of their depth—when Alford took advantage.
The 14-year-old had tried to leave earlier in the night, calling her mother and attempting to book an Uber after friends departed around 12:30am. She remained at the house when those plans fell through. Whitby argued the setting—late, unsupervised, and fuelled by alcohol—created the moment Alford exploited.
Alford faced multiple charges: four counts of sexual activity with a child in relation to the 14-year-old, and two counts involving the 15-year-old, including sexual assault and assault by penetration. After hearing evidence from the teenagers and witnesses present that night, the jury returned guilty verdicts for sexually assaulting both girls.
What the court heard, the legal stakes, and the fall from fame
The case turned on consent and age. In England and Wales, the age of consent is 16. The prosecution said Alford was “in no doubt” about the girls’ ages, and that he chose to proceed anyway. Assault by penetration is among the most serious sexual offences and can carry a life sentence. Sexual activity with a child also attracts heavy penalties. Formal sentencing will follow; the court did not announce a date at the end of the verdict.
None of the teenagers were identified in court or media reporting, in line with laws granting lifelong anonymity to victims of sexual offences. The judge is expected to consider factors such as the girls’ ages, the circumstances of the offending, and the impact on the victims when determining sentence. In cases involving sexual offences, judges typically order pre-sentence reports and victim impact statements before finalising punishment.
Alford’s conviction marks a stark turn for a once-familiar face on British television. He first became well known playing Robbie Wright in Grange Hill, the long-running school drama that served as a launchpad for many young actors. He later joined London’s Burning, portraying firefighter Billy Ray in the popular ITV series. His mainstream career slowed in the late 1990s after a widely reported drugs case following a tabloid sting. He received a jail term in 1999 and later said he had been entrapped, but the conviction stood.
The Hertfordshire case underlines a problem that police and safeguarding groups warn about often: adult guests mixing with teenagers at late-night gatherings where alcohol is present. Here, prosecutors said, the presence of an older man—introduced via a parent—gave the teenagers a false sense of safety. By the time most people in the house had gone to bed, the 14- and 15-year-old were left with someone the prosecution said was “a family friend” in name only.
Trials like this usually hinge on detailed testimony. Jurors heard how the night unfolded, who was awake when, what was said, and how the girls reacted afterward. The prosecution also highlighted the 14-year-old’s efforts to get home earlier—which failed—and her intoxicated state. These accounts, taken together, persuaded the jury that offences took place and that Alford knew the girls were underage.
Post-verdict, standard next steps include setting a sentencing timetable and confirming any interim orders. Under UK law, people convicted of qualifying sexual offences must comply with notification requirements—the regime often referred to as the sex offenders register—though the exact terms depend on the sentence and the offences.
For Alford, the legal consequences will be decided by the sentencing judge. For the victims, anonymity remains in place for life. The case will likely ripple beyond the courtroom, prompting more questions about adult conduct around teenagers, the role of parents at parties where alcohol is available, and how quickly a harmless-seeming late-night visit can tip into danger.
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